Mental Health & Homelessness a best practices approach Florida Mental Health Summit Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Homelessness HEARTH Act – Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act – Defines homelessness for federal programs “literally” homeless; includes persons in transitional housing and shelters Imminent risk of losing housing without network to secure other housing Fleeing domestic violence – Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Grants Opening Doors – federal strategic plan to end homelessness

Homelessness in Florida 2015 Point In Time Count – 35,964 persons identified as homeless in 2015 Point In Time Count – 33.6% reported having a mental illness 13% reduction in overall homelessness from Point In Time Count – 19% were chronically homeless – Have a disability and been homeless for more than a year or experienced homelessness 3 or more times in previous 4 years

Cycle of Chronic Homelessness Emergency Departments StreetInpatient BedsShelter Psychiatric Hospitals Jail Hospital Readmissions Detox Chronically homeless persons cycle in and out of very high-cost crisis systems

Public Expenditures

Housing First Move into permanent housing FIRST Low barrier; no pre-conditions such as compliance with treatment or sobriety Voluntary supports provided – IF NEEDED – to help retain housing and access community-based care

Supportive Housing Affordable housing linked with voluntary, person- centered support services Target persons requiring intensive community-based supports Prioritize Is not necessarily “final” step on continuum of housing

Best Practices* Lease – all the rights and responsibilities of a lease Support services and property management separate and distinct roles Services are voluntary and consumer driven Integrated into the community *See SAMHSA Supportive Housing Tool Kit for more information on evidence-based practices

Inclusive Various models, but located in safe neighborhoods with access to: Transportation Employment Community-based services Shopping, recreation, socialization *See SAMHSA Supportive Housing Tool Kit for more information on evidence-based practices

Improves Overall Health Supportive Housing provides: – Physical safety Reduces exposure - weather, disease, injury, violence… Provides place to: sleep; address hygiene; keep food, medications, clothing… – Services that lead to improved health and stability – Improve access to health care – Engage person in own care management; promote lifestyle changes

Reduce Use of Acute & Emergency Care Source: Massachusetts Home and Healthy for Good; January 2015 Progress Report

10 th Decile Outcomes

Learn More Florida Institute on Homelessness & Supportive Housing October 29 & 30, 2015 Orlando, Florida Substance Abuse & Mental Health Administration U.S. Inter-Agency Council on Homelessness

Sources Housing is the Best Medicine; Supportive Housing and the Social Determinants of Health Corporation for Supportive Housing; Why Does a Health Care Company Care About Housing? UnitedHealthcare; (handout from Supportive Housing Summit 2015) Los Angeles Economic Roundtable Florida Council on Homelessness 2015 Report U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

Thank You Contact information Shannon Nazworth Ability Housing of Northeast Florida